The Beaches of Barbuda

byDave Jackson

Barbuda is Antigua’s sister island although it could not be more different. On Barbuda vacations you will see a Caribbean island that is unspoiled by tourism. The most prominent inhabitant of Barbuda is the Frigate Bird; the island is home to the largest colony in the world. There’s a Nature Reserve in a lagoon not far from the airport, and while there’s not really a “scheduled” boat service, local fishermen are used to ferrying tourists around that for a fixed price (which, as far as I remember, is rather high – in the region of US$ 20 per person). Barbuda is not a fast paced island, but rather an island that you can relax and enjoy. It is unspoiled by the crowds of tourist that you usually find on busy beaches.

Barbuda is one of the leeward islands of the Caribbean and part of the State of Antigua and Barbuda, which makes it kind of like Antigua’s little brother. It is a sparsely populated island, with most inhabitants making their homes in the city of Codrington. Antigua and Barbuda is predominantly dependent on tourism. The contribution of Tourism to the economy is estimated to be about 60% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Barbuda is a fifteen minute flight or a ninety minute ferry ride. Explore underground caves, or enjoy a game of cricket.

Coco Point Lodge in beautiful Barbuda is my favorite place in the world to be. I have traveled to many islands in the Caribbean and many beautiful places on the Mediterranean. Surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean on one side and the Caribbean on the other, Barbuda is renowned for its natural beauty, peaceful way of life, and a friendly population ready to please. Nearby Barbuda is small, with little development aside from a few resorts on its gorgeous coastline. These independent islands are located in the Leeward Island chain.

The beaches are fabulous, stretching unbroken and unpopulated to the horizon, the longest one being 12 miles long. They are seemingly endless and are left to the peaceful wanderings of those lucky enough to sojourn there.

Several other cave systems exist, some of which go below the ground or underwater. Visitors can usually go spelunking with cave experts if they wish to explore these more elaborate systems. In one are ancient cave drawings and in others it is possible to climb right through to the top of the Highlands and see for miles. Other caves go underground and underwater and requires expert knowledge to explore them.

The coral around both islands has been damaged due to hurricanes but it is slowly growing back. Antigua is a popular destination for large Carribean cruises. The favourable underwater landscape is only the beginning: The coral encrusted walls and jumbles of boulders you will see create a myriad of hiding places for all types of Caribbean reef fish which congregate in numbers! Larger marine life such as turtles, stingrays, barracuda, jacks, permit, nurse sharks and morays are regularly seen here.

The south-west corner is hilly, rising to 402 meters at Boggy Peak, the island’s highest point.Barbuda, a low-lying coral island is located 32 miles north of Antigua and has a land area of approximately 64 sq. Barbuda encompasses the expansive Codrington lagoon, which is bound by a long undeveloped beach.